BACKGROUND
[0001] The internet-of-things (IoT) refers to the networking of physical objects embedded
with electronic devices. As more objects are networked, new ways of interacting with
them become available. IoT devices can collect, process, act on, and communicate data
for such purposes as automation, user reporting, and remote control. IoT devices are
rapidly being deployed in home, industrial, metropolitan, and environmental applications,
and using voice control for ease of use.
[0002] Multiple IoT devices can be connected using wireless radio frequency (RF) communication
links. However, conventional IoT devices establish the communication links by using
various wireless protocols. Numerous wireless protocols exist, including WiFi, Bluetooth,
ZigBee, and more. Manufacturers of different IoT devices may use any one of these
numerous wireless protocols. The existence of numerous wireless protocols hinders
linking all available IoT devices, and is commonly referred to as the "basket of remotes"
problem.
[0003] In one solution, a unique software application is installed on an IoT device in order
to enable it to communicate with IoT devices having different wireless protocols.
This solution is difficult to implement, particularly due to the complexity of the
software and the need for the software developer to be familiar with the numerous
wireless protocols. If installed on a device that uses voice control, the software
may need to re-implement algorithms that relate voice commands to protocol commands
in light of the additional protocols. Moreover, it is difficult for IoT devices operating
only on a local network to install the software.
SUMMARY
[0004] The present disclosure is directed to multiprotocol audio/voice internet-of-things
(IoT) devices and related system, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection
with at least one of the figures, and as set forth in the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005]
Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary diagram of a portion of a conventional wireless
communication system.
Figure 2A illustrates a system diagram of a portion of an exemplary multiprotocol
audio/voice internet-of-things device (MAVID™) according to one implementation of
the present application.
Figure 2B illustrates a system diagram of a portion of an exemplary multiprotocol
audio/voice internet-of-things device (MAVID™) according to one implementation of
the present application.
Figure 3A illustrates an exemplary diagram of a portion of a wireless communication
system according to one implementation of the present application.
Figure 3B illustrates an exemplary diagram of a portion of a wireless communication
system according to one implementation of the present application.
Figure 3C illustrates an exemplary diagram of a portion of a wireless communication
system according to one implementation of the present application.
Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary diagram of a portion of a wireless communication
system according to one implementation of the present application.
Figure 5 illustrates an exemplary diagram of a portion of a wireless communication
system according to one implementation of the present application.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0006] The following description contains specific information pertaining to implementations
in the present disclosure. The drawings in the present application and their accompanying
detailed description are directed to merely exemplary implementations. Unless noted
otherwise, like or corresponding elements among the figures may be indicated by like
or corresponding reference numerals. Moreover, the drawings and illustrations in the
present application are generally not to scale, and are not intended to correspond
to actual relative dimensions.
[0007] Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary diagram of a portion of a conventional wireless
communication system. As illustrated in Figure 1, wireless communication system 100
includes router 102, speaker 104, laptop computer 106, light control panel 108, lights
110a, 110b, and 110c, mobile phone 112, speaker 114, desktop computer 116, keyboard
118, and mouse 120.
[0008] As shown in Figure 1, router 102 wirelessly connects to and communicates with speaker
104 and laptop computer 106 using WiFi as the wireless protocol. The WiFi protocol
includes the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards.
For example the WiFi protocol may be IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and/or 802.11n
standards and use 2.4 GHz and/or 5 GHz frequency bands. In the present implementation
router 102, speaker 104, and laptop computer 106 have integrated WiFi modules that
enable use of the WiFi protocol. The WiFi protocol may be used, for example, to stream
music and video from router 102 to speaker 104 and laptop computer 106 respectively.
Speaker 104 may generally be any audio control system, such as a home theater receiver
or headphones. Laptop computer 106 may generally be any data storage and processing
device, such as a tablet.
[0009] Figure 1 also shows light control panel 108 wirelessly connects to and communicates
with lights 110a, 110b, and 110c using ZigBee as the wireless protocol. The ZigBee
protocol includes versions of the ZigBee Alliance specifications, such as ZigBee 2006
and/or ZigBee PRO. The ZigBee protocol may comply with IEEE 802.15.4 standards and
use 868 MHz, 915 MHz, and/or 2.4 GHz frequency bands. In the present implementation
light control panel 108 and lights 110a, 110b, and 110c have integrated ZigBee modules
that enable use of the ZigBee protocol. The ZigBee protocol may be used, for example,
to stream light control signals from light control panel 108 to lights 110a, 110b,
and 110c. Light control signals may change a lighting pattern, power off, change the
color, change the speed, or revert to default color lights 110a, 110b, and 110c. Light
control panel 108 may generally be any control panel, such as a wall-mounted panel
or a virtual display panel on a ZigBee integrated remote. Lights 110a, 110b, and 110c
may generally be any controllable light, such as a dimmable light, a red green blue
light-emitting diode (RGB LED), or correlated color temperature LED (CCT LED).
[0010] As further shown in Figure 1, mobile phone 112 wirelessly connects to and communicates
with speaker 114, and desktop computer 116 wirelessly connects to and communicates
with keyboard 118 and mouse 120, using Bluetooth as the wireless protocol. The Bluetooth
protocol includes versions of the Bluetooth specifications, such as Bluetooth Basic
Rate, Bluetooth Enhanced Data Rate (EDR), and/or Bluetooth Low Energy (LE). The Bluetooth
protocol may comply with IEEE 802.15.1 standards and use the 2.4 GHz frequency band.
In the present implementation mobile phone 112, speaker 114, desktop computer 116,
keyboard 118, and mouse 120 have integrated Bluetooth modules that enable use of the
Bluetooth protocol. The Bluetooth protocol may be used, for example, to stream music
from mobile phone 112 to speaker 114, and to stream interface control signals from
keyboard 118 and mouse 120 to desktop computer 116. Speaker 114 may generally be any
audio control system, such as a home theater receiver or headphones. Desktop computer
116 may generally be any data storage and processing device, such as a tablet. Keyboard
118 and mouse 120 may generally be any human interface device, such as a joystick.
[0011] Notably, in wireless communication system 100, devices having different wireless
protocols do not connect to and communicate with each other. For example, WiFi-enabled
router 102 does not communicate with ZigBee-enabled light control panel 108, and neither
WiFi-enabled router 102 nor ZigBee-enabled light control panel 108 communicates with
Bluetooth-enabled speaker 114. In practice, use of numerous loT devices burdens a
user with a need for multiple gateways, one for each protocol.
[0012] Figure 2A illustrates a system diagram of a portion of an exemplary multiprotocol
audio/voice internet-of-things device (MAVID™) according to one implementation of
the present application. MAVID™ is a trademark of Libre Wireless Technologies, Inc.
As illustrated in Figure 2A, MAVID™ 230 includes package 232, antennas 234a and 234b,
diplexer 236, RF switches 237 and 238, dual-band wireless communication module 240,
having WiFi communication module 242, Bluetooth communication module 244, and Bluetooth
LE communication module 245, ZigBee communication module 246, third generation and
fourth generation mobile technology (3G/4G) communication module 248, multipoint control
unit (MCU) 250, microphone 252, lines 280 and 282, digital signal processor (DSP)
254, quad serial peripheral interface (QSPI) flash memory 256, random access memory
(RAM) 257, and power supply 258.
[0013] As shown in Figure 2A, diplexer 236, RF switches 237 and 238, dual-band wireless
communication module 240, having WiFi communication module 242, Bluetooth communication
module 244, and Bluetooth LE communication module 245, ZigBee communication module
246, MCU 250, DSP 254, and power supply 258 are located inside package 232. Package
232 may be a small form factor package having dimensions of approximately one inch
by inch (1" x 1") or less. As also shown in Figure 2A, antennas 234a and 234b, 3G/4G
communication module 248, microphone 252, QSPI flash memory 256, and RAM 257 are located
outside package 232. Antennas 234a and 234b, 3G/4G communication module 248, microphone
252, QSPI flash memory 256, and RAM 257 may be located, for example, on a printed
circuit board (PCB) (not shown in Figure 2A). Package 232 may also be located on the
PCB.
[0014] Antennas 234a and 234b located outside package 232 are used to receive or transmit
RF signals according to various wireless protocols. For example, antenna 234a is used
to receive or transmit RF signals according to the WiFi and Bluetooth protocols, and
antenna 234b is used to receive or transmit RF signals according to the ZigBee protocol.
Antennas 234a and 234b may be, for example, patch antennas or microstrip antennas
or other types of antennas. In one implementation, antennas 234a and 234b may each
be an antenna array having more than one element.
[0015] As shown in Figure 2A, antenna 234a is used for both WiFi and Bluetooth protocols.
Antenna 234a is coupled to diplexer 236. Diplexer 236 differentiates RF signals in
different frequency bands. For example, in the present implementation, diplexer 236
differentiates signals in the 2.4 GHz frequency band from signals in the 5 GHz frequency
band. The 5 GHz signals are coupled to RF switch 237, which switches the signals between
transmit and receive lines, and are then coupled to WiFi communication module 242
in dual band wireless communication module 240. The 2.4 GHz signals are coupled to
RF switch 238, which switches the signals between transmit and receive lines, and
are then coupled to WiFi communication module 242 and Bluetooth communication module
244 in dual band wireless communication module 240. Antenna 234b is coupled to ZigBee
communication module 246. In one implementation, antenna 234b may be used for more
than one wireless protocol.
[0016] WiFi communication module 242, Bluetooth communication module 244, and ZigBee communication
module 246 process RF signals according to the standards of the WiFi protocol, the
Bluetooth protocol, and the ZigBee protocol respectively. Because concurrent use of
multiple wireless protocols generally results in interference and collisions, WiFi
communication module 242, Bluetooth communication module 244, and ZigBee communication
module 246 are also responsive to and controlled by control signals from MCU 250.
As shown in Figure 2A, WiFi communication module 242, Bluetooth communication module
244, and ZigBee communication module 246 are coupled to MCU 250 through hardware communication
interfaces, such as secure digital input output (SDIO), universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter
(UART), and pulse code modulation (PCM) interfaces. These interfaces are bidirectional,
allowing the communication modules to report data to MCU 250 for additional processing,
and allowing MCU 250 to send control signals to the communication modules. For example,
WiFi communication module 242, Bluetooth communication module 244, and ZigBee communication
module 246 may report information regarding current and planned operational states,
bit and packet error rates, signal and noise power levels, frequencies and channels,
and timing. MCU 250 may perform interference assessments based on information reported
by the communication modules, determine interference solutions based on the interference
assessments, and send control signals to the communication modules based on the determined
interference solutions. Thus, MCU acts as a packet traffic arbiter (PTA) to manage
the coexistence of multiple wireless protocols, enabling MAVID™ 230 to concurrently
form wireless RF communication links over those multiple wireless protocols.
[0017] In Figure 2A, 3G/4G module 248 is coupled to MCU 250. MCU 250 interacts with 3G/4G
module in substantially the same manner as the other wireless communication modules
described above. 3G/4G module may be located outside package 232 for other considerations
such as size, heat dissipation, and/or electrical isolation. Optionally, as shown
in Figure 2A, dual-band wireless communication module 240 is coupled to ZigBee module
246 through a PTA interface, to more efficiently compare data from dual-band wireless
communication module 240 with data from ZigBee module 246 and reduce the processing
burden of MCU 250. In one implementation, MAVID™ 230 may form wireless RF communication
links over other wireless protocols instead of, or in addition to, those shown in
Figure 2A. For example, MAVID™ 230 may use Long Range (LoRa), Z-Wave, Digital Enhanced
Cordless Technology (DECT), and any other wireless protocols.
[0018] As shown in Figure 2A, MAVID™ 230 includes microphone 252. Microphone 252 is configured
to receive voice from a user. In the present implementation, microphone 252 is a microphone
array with three microphone elements. Microphone 252 may provide beamforming capability
to improve reception of far-field voice and enable voice tracking. In various implementations,
microphone 252 may be a single microphone element or a microphone array with more
or fewer microphone elements than shown in Figure 2A. The number of microphone elements
may depend on how critical sound is for MAVID™ 230.
[0019] Microphone 252 is coupled to DSP 254 through line 280. DSP 254 is configured to receive
and process voice signals from microphone 252. DSP 254 performs voice signal conditioning,
such as noise filtration, voice cleanup, and gain control. DSP 254 also performs voice
recognition analysis. Optionally, as shown in Figure 2A, microphone 252 may be coupled
to MCU 250 through line 282, and then coupled to DSP 254. In one implementation, DSP
254 employs a wake-up scheme wherein components of MAVID™ 230 are kept in a low-power
operational state until the occurrence of a detectable event, such as DSP 254 recognizing
a user speaking "Jarvis" or another keyword.
[0020] As shown in Figure 2A, DSP 254 is coupled to MCU 250 through hardware communication
interfaces, such serial peripheral interface (SPI), inter-integrated circuit (I2C),
general purpose input output (GPIO), and inter-IC sound (I2S) interfaces. These interfaces
allow MCU 250 to provide feedback to DSP 254, and DSP 254 to provide voice control
signals to MCU 250. MCU 250 is configured to enable wireless RF communication links
over multiple wireless protocols in response to the voice control signals received
from DSP 254. For example, while MAVID™ 230 is streaming audio to a speaker (not shown
in Figure 2A) over the Bluetooth protocol, a user may speak the words "lights show."
DSP 254 may provide a voice control signal to MCU 250 corresponding to voice recognition
of the words "lights show." MCU 250 may process both the voice control signal and
information reported by Bluetooth communication module 244, and then enable MAVID™
230 to connect to lights (not shown in Figure 2A) over the ZigBee protocol while maintaining
the connection to the speaker over the Bluetooth protocol. In other examples, MCU
250 enables MAVID™ 230 to communicate over multiple wireless protocols in response
to voice control signals corresponding to voice recognition of different words.
[0021] As also shown in Figure 2A, MAVID™ 230 includes QSPI flash memory 256 coupled to
MCU 250. MCU 250 may process information stored in QSPI flash memory 256, in addition
to voice control signals and information reported by wireless communication modules.
For example, QSPI flash memory 256 may store a previous multiprotocol connection's
configuration, so that MCU 250 can access the configuration and reduce processing
burden of MCU 250 upon a similar subsequent multiprotocol connection. As also shown
in Figure 2A, MAVID™ 230 includes RAM 257 coupled to MCU 250. MCU 250 may process
information stored in RAM 257, in addition to voice control signals and information
reported by wireless communication modules. RAM 257 may be, for example, double data
rate (DDR) synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM) or DDR static RAM (SRAM).
[0022] MCU 250 may process information from external hardware communication interfaces such
as external inter-IC sound (I2S) (shown as "Aux In (I2S)" in Figure 2A), serial peripheral
interface (SPI), inter-integrated circuit (I2C), general purpose input output (GPIO),
pulse width modulation (PWM), universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART),
secure digital / secure digital input output (SD/SDIO), and/or universal serial bus
(USB) interfaces. Power supply 258 supplies power to components of MAVID™ 230.
[0023] Figure 2B illustrates a system diagram of a portion of an exemplary multiprotocol
audio/voice internet-of-things device (MAVID™) according to one implementation of
the present application. As illustrated in Figure 2B, MAVID™ 231 includes package
233 having antennas 235a and 235b and microphone input interface 253. In Figure 2B,
package 233 is a system-level package, such as PCB or ceramic system-in-package (SiP),
and may be larger than small form factor package 232 in Figure 2A. Microphone input
interface 253 enables MAVID™ 231 to receive voice from a user. For example, package
233 may house one or more microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) microphones that receive
voice from a user through microphone input interface 253. The MEMS microphones may
be, for example, condenser, electret, or piezoresistive MEMS microphones. Microphone
input interface 253 may be, for example, an aperture that enables diaphragms and other
components of the MEMS microphones to interact with external user voice. MAVID™ 231
is configured to connect to a variety of host/control interfaces, such as through
external hardware communication interfaces discussed above. These host/control interfaces
enable external hardware to communicate with drivers in MAVID™ 231. MAVID™ 231 is
also configured to connect to a variety of memory expansion options. In various implementations,
memory expansions may be external to package 233, internal to package 233, or partially
external and partially internal. Memory expansions may include QSPI flash memory,
DDR SDRAM, DDR SRAM, or any other type of memory.
[0024] MAVID™ 231 in Figure 2B is an alternative implementation to MAVID™ 230 in Figure
2A, in that MAVID™ 231 in Figure 2B is not divided into physically or logically distinct
modules that separately perform the functionalities of dual-band wireless communication
module 240, WiFi communication module 242, Bluetooth communication module 244, Bluetooth
LE communication module 245, ZigBee communication module 246, 3G/4G communication
module 248, DSP 254, MCU 250, diplexer 236, RF switches 237 and 238, QSPI flash memory
256, RAM 257, and/or microphone 252. Instead, MAVID™ 231 in Figure 2B can perform
the same or similar functionalities as MAVID™ 230 in Figure 2A without requiring or
needing separate physically or logically distinct modules. For example, a uniquely
combined circuity in MAVID™ 231 in Figure 2B can perform all or some of the functions
performed separately by dual-band wireless communication module 240, WiFi communication
module 242, Bluetooth communication module 244, Bluetooth LE communication module
245, ZigBee communication module 246, 3G/4G communication module 248, DSP 254, MCU
250, diplexer 236, RF switches 237 and 238, QSPI flash memory 256, RAM 257, and/or
microphone 252 in MAVID™ 230 in Figure 2A.
[0025] Antennas 235a, 235b, and 235c in Figure 2B are used to receive or transmit RF signals
according to various wireless protocols. In the present implementation, antennas 235a,
235b, and 235c are coupled to enabling circuits in package 233. Antenna 235a is used
to receive or transmit RF signals according to the WiFi and Bluetooth protocols. Antennas
235b and 235c are used to receive or transmit RF signals according to the ZigBee and
3G/4G protocols respectively. Antennas 235a, 235b, and 235c may be, for example, patch
antennas or microstrip antennas or other types of antennas. In one implementation,
antennas 235a, 235b, and 235c may each be an antenna array having more than one element.
Antennas 235a and 235b in Figure 2B may correspond to antennas 234a and 234b in Figure
2A respectively. As shown in Figure 2B, antenna 235a may be used for both WiFi and
Bluetooth protocols. In various implementations, one or each of antennas 235b and
235c may be used for more than one wireless protocol.
[0026] For the purpose of an example only, an exemplary use of MAVID™ 231 is described hereafter.
While MAVID™ 231 is streaming audio to a speaker (not shown in Figure 2B) over the
Bluetooth protocol using antenna 235a, a user may speak the words "lights show." MAVID™
231 may process the user's words and information regarding RF signals at antenna 235a,
and then MAVID™ 231 may connect to lights (not shown in Figure 2B) over the ZigBee
protocol using antenna 235b, while maintaining the connection to the speaker over
the Bluetooth protocol using antenna 235a. Thus, without requiring installation of
a unique software application, MAVID™ 231 in Figure 2B communicates over multiple
wireless protocols in response to a voice command from a user.
[0027] Figure 3A illustrates an exemplary diagram of a portion of a wireless communication
system according to one implementation of the present application. As illustrated
in Figure 3A, wireless communication system 300a includes speaker 314, router 302,
television 362, cloud platform 363, user 360, and wearable MAVID™ 330. Speaker 314
and router 302 in Figure 3A may generally correspond to speaker 114 and router 102
in Figure 1 respectively. In the present implementation, television 362 and router
302 have integrated WiFi modules, and speaker 314 has an integrated Bluetooth module.
Wearable MAVID™ 330 may be any MAVID™ ergonomically designed to be worn by a user
without creating a substantial obstruction. In the present implementation, wearable
MAVID™ 330 is a necklace. In various implementations wearable MAVID™ may be, for example,
a button, a watch, eyeglasses, headphones, or an earpiece. Wearable MAVID™ 330 in
Figure 3A may have any other implementations and advantages described above with respect
to MAVID™ 230 in Figure 2A.
[0028] In Figure 3A, wireless communication system 300a may correspond to an "in-home" setting.
As shown in Figure 3A, wearable MAVID™ 330 connects to speaker 314 over the Bluetooth
protocol and connects to television 362 over the WiFi protocol. Wearable MAVID™ 330
may control speaker 314 and television 362 by voice command from user 360. For example,
wearable MAVID™ 330 may power on both Bluetooth-enabled speaker 314 and WiFi-enabled
television 362 in response to a voice command from user 360. Wearable MAVID™ 330 also
connects to router 302 over the WiFi protocol. Router 302 then connects to television
362 over the WiFi protocol and connects to cloud platform 363 over an internet protocol
(IP) connection. Wearable MAVID™ 330 may control router 302 by voice command from
user 360. For example, wearable MAVID™ 330 may instruct router 302 to connect to and
utilize television 362 and cloud platform 363 in response to a voice command from
user 360.
[0029] Figure 3B illustrates an exemplary diagram of a portion of a wireless communication
system according to one implementation of the present application. As illustrated
in Figure 3B, wireless communication system 300b includes home 364 having lighting
system 310, user 360, and wearable MAVID™ 330. In Figure 3B, wireless communication
system 300b may correspond to a "near-home" setting. As shown in Figure 3B, wearable
MAVID™ 330 connects to lighting system 310 over the ZigBee protocol. Wearable MAVID™
330 may control lighting system 310 by voice command from user 360. For example, wearable
MAVID™ 330 may power off ZigBee-enabled lighting system 310 in response to a voice
command from user 360.
[0030] Figure 3C illustrates an exemplary diagram of a portion of a wireless communication
system according to one implementation of the present application. As illustrated
in Figure 3C, wireless communication system 300c includes base station 366, user 360,
and wearable MAVID™ 330. In Figure 3C, wireless communication system 300c may correspond
to an "away-from-home" setting. As shown in Figure 3C, wearable MAVID™ 330 connects
to base station 366 over the 3G/4G protocol. Wearable MAVID™ 330 may communicate with
base station 366 by voice command from user 360. For example, wearable MAVID™ 330
may initiate a phone call through base station 366 in response to a voice command
from user 360. As illustrated in Figures 3A-3C, the same wearable MAVID™ 330 can be
used in different settings to connect to, and voice control, loT devices using different
wireless protocols.
[0031] Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary diagram of a portion of a wireless communication
system according to one implementation of the present application. As illustrated
in Figure 4, wireless communication system 400 includes user 460, MAVID™ 430, and
a plurality of endpoint devices, including router 402, light control panel 408, home
appliance 409, speaker 414, base station 466, parking meter 468, electronic door lock
470, and phone dock 472. Router 402, light control panel 408, and speaker 414 in Figure
4 may generally correspond to router 102, light control panel 108, and speaker 114
in Figure 1. Base station 466, parking meter 468, electronic door lock 470, and phone
dock 472 are integrated with appropriate modules to enable use of the 3G/4G, LoRa,
Z-Wave, and DECT protocols respectively. Home appliance 409 may be any home loT device
integrated with a ZigBee module, such as a television, a computer, a printer, a flash
drive, an on-board diagnostics (OBD) dongle, a refrigerator, a coffee maker, a home
security alarm, a security camera, a washer, a dryer, a thermostat, or a heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) device.
[0032] As shown in Figure 4, MAVID™ 430 can connect to each endpoint device over its respective
protocol and control them by voice commands from user 460. Specifically, MAVID™ 430
connects to router 402, light control panel 408, home appliance 409, speaker 414,
base station 466, parking meter 468, electronic door lock 470, and phone dock 472
over WiFi, ZigBee, ZigBee, Bluetooth, 3G/4G, LoRa, Z-Wave, and DECT protocols respectively.
MAVID™ 430 may determine a wireless protocol acceptable by each endpoint device as
part of this connection. For example, in response to a voice command from user 460,
MAVID™ 430 may use various protocols until it determines that an endpoint device sufficiently
corresponds to the voice command, and then connect to that endpoint device. In an
alternative example, MAVID™ 430 may perform a complete scan of all protocols and then
make a determination which endpoint device most closely corresponds to the voice command.
Various algorithms may be used for determining the correspondence between voice commands
and the desired endpoint device. In one implementation, these algorithms may be based
in part on a location estimation derived from, for example, signal power levels at
MAVID™ 430 or a global positioning system (GPS) module interfaced with MAVID™ 430.
In another implementation, these algorithms may be based in part on information stored
in a memory of MAVID™ 430, such as previous connection information stored in QSPI
flash memory 256 of Figure 2A. When MAVID™ 430 is connected with an endpoint device,
MAVID™ 430 can also control the endpoint device in response to voice commands from
user 460. Various algorithms may also be used to determine how voice commands from
user 460 correspond to commands in the given wireless protocol. For example, an algorithm
executed by MCU 250 of Figure 2A may determine that the voice command "louder" from
user 460 corresponds to a "VOLUME UP" command of a standardized audio profile of the
Bluetooth protocol.
[0033] When using multiprotocol devices in the present implementation, loT devices having
different wireless protocols can be conveniently controlled from a single MAVID™ gateway
by voice command. Also, the need for installing a unique application to connect to
each loT device having a unique wireless protocol is reduced and voice control algorithms
generally do not need to be re-implemented; and loT devices, especially loT devices
operating only on a local network, would generally not need to install new software.
[0034] Figure 5 illustrates an exemplary diagram of a portion of a wireless communication
system according to one implementation of the present application. As illustrated
in Figure 5, wireless communication system 500 includes user 560, MAVID™ 530, and
a plurality of consumer electronic MAVIDs™, including router 502, light control panel
508, home appliance 509, speaker 514, base station 566, parking meter 568, electronic
door lock 570, phone dock 572, and MAVID™ chips 531. In Figure 5, router 502, light
control panel 508, home appliance 509, speaker 514, base station 566, parking meter
568, electronic door lock 570, and phone dock 572 are each integrated with one of
MAVID™ chips 531, rather than a singular wireless protocol module - as was the case
with respect to Figure 4.
[0035] By embedding MAVID™ chips 531 in each consumer electronic MAVID™, multiple consumer
electronics can be conveniently controlled from a single gateway by voice command.
In the present implementation, MAVID™ 530 is a gateway. In various implementations,
any of MAVIDs™ 531 may be a gateway instead of or in addition to MAVID™ 530. Moreover,
using MAVID™ chips 531 in each consumer electronic MAVID™ facilitates dynamic selection
of wireless protocols. For example, MAVID™ 530 and a consumer electronic MAVID™ integrated
with one of MAVID™ chips 531 may be communicating over the Bluetooth protocol, and
then, based on distance calculations, signal strengths, bit error rates, scans, or
information stored in memory, may coordinate with each other and switch to communicating
over the ZigBee protocol if determined to be advantageous.
[0036] When using multiprotocol devices in the present implementation, loT devices having
different wireless protocols can be conveniently controlled from a single MAVID™ gateway
by voice command. Moreover, in the present implementation, because a unique software
application (i.e. a unique "app") is not required to connect to each loT device that
is itself a consumer electronic MAVID™, i.e. itself has a MAVID™ chip embedded therein,
voice control algorithms do not need to be re-implemented, and the MAVID™-enabled
IoT devices do not need to install new software.
[0037] Thus, various implementations of the present application achieve improved multiprotocol
audio/voice devices for use in wireless IoT applications. From the above description
it is manifest that various techniques can be used for implementing the concepts described
in the present application without departing from the scope of those concepts. Moreover,
while the concepts have been described with specific reference to certain implementations,
a person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that changes can be made in
form and detail without departing from the scope of those concepts. As such, the described
implementations are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
It should also be understood that the present application is not limited to the particular
implementations described above, but many rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions
are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
1. A system of multiprotocol audio/voice devices comprising:
a consumer electronic multiprotocol audio/voice device;
a wearable multiprotocol audio/voice device accessible by a user;
said wearable multiprotocol audio/voice device determining a wireless protocol acceptable
by said consumer electronic multiprotocol audio/voice device;
said user controlling said consumer electronic multiprotocol audio/voice device by
said wearable multiprotocol audio/voice device, without requiring a unique application
to connect said consumer electronic multiprotocol audio/voice device to said wearable
multiprotocol audio/voice device.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless protocol comprises WiFi, ZigBee, Bluetooth,
third generation mobile technology (3G), fourth generation mobile technology (4G),
Long Range (LoRa), Z-Wave, and Digital Enhanced Cordless Technology (DECT).
3. The system of at least one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said user controls said consumer
electronic multiprotocol audio/voice device by voice command.
4. The system of at least one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said consumer electronic multiprotocol
audio/voice device is selected from the group consisting of: a speaker, a router,
a television, a lighting system, a telephone, a computer, a printer, a flash drive,
an on-board diagnostics (OBD) dongle, a refrigerator, a coffee maker, a home security
alarm, a security camera, a thermostat, and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
(HVAC) device.
5. The system of at least one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said a wearable multiprotocol
audio/voice device is selected from the group consisting of: a necklace, a button,
a watch, eyeglasses, headphones, and an earpiece.
6. The system of at least one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said wearable multiprotocol audio/voice
device determines said wireless protocol acceptable by said consumer electronic multiprotocol
audio/voice device based on a scan.
7. The system of at least one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said wearable multiprotocol audio/voice
device determines said wireless protocol acceptable by said consumer electronic multiprotocol
audio/voice device based on a location estimation.
8. A multiprotocol audio/voice device comprising:
a package housing a digital signal processor (DSP), at least one wireless communication
module, and a multipoint control unit (MCU) coupled to said DSP and said at least
one wireless communication module;
said DSP coupled to at least one microphone and configured to provide at least one
voice control signal to said MCU;
said at least one wireless communication module coupled to at least one antenna;
said MCU configured to enable a wireless radio frequency (RF) communication link over
a plurality of wireless protocols.
9. The multiprotocol audio/voice device of claim 8, wherein said MCU is configured to
enable said wireless RF communication link over said plurality of wireless protocols
in response to said at least one voice control signal.
10. The multiprotocol audio/voice device of at least one of claims 8 or 9, wherein said
plurality of wireless protocols comprises WiFi, ZigBee, Bluetooth, third generation
mobile technology (3G), fourth generation mobile technology (4G), Long Range (LoRa),
Z-Wave, and Digital Enhanced Cordless Technology (DECT).
11. The multiprotocol audio/voice device of at least one of claims 8 to 10, wherein said
MCU is further configured to dynamically select one of said plurality of wireless
protocols.
12. The multiprotocol audio/voice device of at least one of claims 8 to 11, wherein said
miniaturized multiprotocol audio/voice loT device is wearable.
13. A system of multiprotocol audio/voice devices comprising:
a plurality of consumer electronic multiprotocol audio/voice devices;
a wearable multiprotocol audio/voice device accessible by a user;
said user controlling one or more of said plurality of consumer electronic multiprotocol
audio/voice devices by said wearable multiprotocol audio/voice device, without requiring
a unique application to connect each said plurality of consumer electronic multiprotocol
audio/voice devices to said wearable multiprotocol audio/voice device.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein said user controls said plurality of consumer electronic
multiprotocol audio/voice devices by voice command.
15. The system of at least one of claims 13 or 14, wherein said plurality of consumer
electronic multiprotocol audio/voice devices are selected from the group consisting
of: a speaker, a router, a television, a lighting system, a telephone, a computer,
a printer, a flash drive, an on-board diagnostics (OBD) dongle, a refrigerator, a
coffee maker, a home security alarm, a security camera, a thermostat, and a heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) device.